An academy is an all-ability school that is directly funded by central government and independent of direct control by local government. Academies are inspected by Ofsted under the same framework as maintained schools. Academies are self-governing.

A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee which is formed to oversee a group of schools who are academies. The MAT is the employer of staff and holds the land and buildings of each academy in Trust.

There will be a Board of Trustees who are ultimately responsible for the work of the Trust and the academies. However, they devolve much of the responsibility to the individual academies and their respective local governing bodies. Each academy has its own governing body who work with the academy Principal to check that the academy is making good progress and add additional challenge and scrutiny to the work of the school. Each governing body has parent/carer and staff representatives. The academy Principal is always a governor for the time they are employed in that role. The governing body will set the vision for the academy in line with the overall commitment of the multi academy trust. The governing body also draft the academy spending plan and improvement plan for approval by The Trust Board. The governing body has delegated powers from the Trust Board including the management of finance and property and the appointment of staff.

We will remain in charge of our own destiny as the government seeks to force/encourage all schools to become academies by the end of this parliament

• The Local Authority (LA) capacity is disappearing. Pooling the resources of a number of schools means we can re-create some of the services once received from the LA

• To shape the provision to meet the future needs of our children, families and communities based on a local and collaborative proposal of working together and building on existing good practice

• To develop the expertise of all staff to further improve effectiveness and outcomes for children

• To generate financial efficiencies to invest back into the classroom for the benefit of the children What parents and carers need to know

• Each school will not change its character and will continue to look, feel and be the same as it is now

• The Headteacher and Governing Body will continue to run the school on a daily basis as they do now, and parents/carers will continue to be represented on the Governing Body.

• The name of the school will not change, and the school will not change its admissions policy

• Children with special needs will continue to receive additional support in the way they do now

• Our local schools will continue to work very closely together for each other as well as your children, and will be provided with more support to help them become even better

• The multi-academy trust arrangements will share some central services across the schools which will help them be more efficient and make sure that funding is focused on teaching, learning and support for children

• The multi-academy trust will work very closely and co-operatively with local partners, including other schools, community groups and organisations, and the local authority.

No. A business makes profit for its shareholders. An academy is a charitable trust which cannot make profit.

The governing body.

Academies are required to follow the law and guidance on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions.

Yes, but it would have more freedom to try different things in the curriculum and make sure that what is taught is relevant to our pupils and their specific needs. It must be broad and balanced.

No. Academy funding agreements state that they must ensure that we will be at the heart of its community, collaborating and sharing facilities and expertise with other local schools and the wider community.

Academies are independent of the local authority. However, we wish to continue working with the LA, other local schools and local partners.

The Department for Education meets the running costs for an academy. Academy funding is calculated on a like-for-like basis with local authority schools. Therefore the academy will have a similar budget to that of its predecessor maintained school. With greater freedom to procure services from other providers and to realise cost efficiencies across the network, the academy will be able to make more efficient use of resources to support school improvement. Like other schools, an academy cannot run at a loss or agree a deficit budget, i.e. it has to break-even.

An academy is governed by the rules and regulations for charitable trusts and company law, e.g. we will be required to produce and file accounts and trustees cannot be paid. There will be robust systems with an audit conducted by an external independent auditor.

• Home to school transport

• Education psychology, SEND statementing and assessment

• Monitoring of SEND provision

• Prosecution of parents for non-attendance

• Assigned SEN resources for pupils/students with rare conditions needing individually tailored provision

• Provision of specialist facilities for a student who is no longer registered at a school.

The LA retains the same statutory responsibility for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in academies as they would for a maintained school. We would continue to work closely with the LA to ensure that our SEND pupils are well provided for and to ensure that the LA meets their statutory commitments with regard to pupils.

Yes. There are legal, financial and project costs associated with becoming an academy. The government gives each converting academy £25,000 to contribute towards these costs.

The governing body will be required to grant a 125 year peppercorn lease to the academy trust.

When a school converts to a new academy, all permanent staff are entitled to transfer to it under the same employment terms and conditions. The process of conversion assumes ‘as is’ for staff and that they continue to teach the same classes as previously.

Yes, we will consult with all key stakeholder groups during the transition phase. This will include the sharing of our plans for the new academy trust and an opportunity to gather feedback and suggestions, as well as addressing any questions or concerns. A clear consultation will take place.

Yes – academies are non-selective schools. Academies are required to follow the law and guidance on admissions, SEND and exclusions as if they were maintained schools. It is the aim of the Trust to ensure that our academies provide high quality, inclusive education for all local children.

Ofsted inspects academies in the same way as maintained schools.

We will not change our name unless there is a compelling reason during consultation to do so.

Yes. Where possible and appropriate, the academy will buy back services from the local authority. The academy can work with any schools it wishes if this makes a difference to the education of the children.

No. Uniform will be the same as is now.

The proposal subject to approval from the Department for Education is for Fallings Park Primary to open as an Academy on the 1st September 2025.

Visit the website for the Department of Education on www.gov.uk.